Thursday March 21, 2019

Case of the Week

Lucky Lucy's Foundation Goes Public

Case:

Lucky Lucy Lindstrom finished college and headed west. She started as a financial analyst with a large company in Seattle. After just
four years, she became a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and began advising clients. Lucy also managed her own investments. With her keen insight into
financial markets, Lucy soon began to move from traditional stocks and bonds into futures and commodities markets. Lucy was so successful in these markets
that she now only manages her own large personal portfolio.

Somewhat late in life, Lucy discovered the wonderful world of philanthropy. She volunteered at her favorite charity and learned that giving someone in need
a helping hand is even more gratifying than making another million in the futures market.

Lucy had invested $1,000,000 in stock in a Canadian oil "wildcatter" with the name Northern Long Shot, Inc. This company has been drilling new exploratory
wells in the far north. Recently, the stock rose from the $1 per share that she paid to over $5 per share. After this success, Northern Long Shot decided to
"spin off" a smaller company with a portion of the successful wells. Lucy exchanged her $5 million in stock for 60% of the stock in Northern Long Shot, Inc.
spin-off. After the exchange, Lucy decided to give the Northern Long Shot spin-off stock to a private charitable foundation to help those in need.

After several years of helping those in need through Northern Long Shot Foundation, Lucy discussed future options with her attorney. She was concerned about
all of the rules that applied to private foundations. In addition, her grants now were centered on helping children, and she made most of those grants to a
home for girls and boys.

Question:

Lucy asked, "Why should I continue to pay all of the costs of operating the Northern Long Shot Foundation. Could I transfer all
of the assets to my favorite children's charity? We could set up a fund to support needy boys and girls through this public charity, and save most of the
operating costs."

Solution:

Lucy's attorney explained that it is possible to transfer assets from a private foundation to a public charity. There are
thousands of smaller family private foundations in existence that will be merging and distributing assets in the future. When the purpose of a private
foundation is satisfied or operation of a private foundation is no longer necessary or desirable, the simplest solution is for the private foundation to
terminate and transfer "all of its right, title, and interest in and to all of its net assets" to one or more specific public charities. Section 507(b)(1)
provides that when a private foundation terminates by distributing its assets to a qualified public charity, it does not need to notify the IRS and is not
subject to termination tax.

Lucy transferred the Northern Long Shot Foundation assets to her favorite children's charity. She still supports the same field of interest as before, but
is not subject to all of the costs and restrictive rules that govern private foundations.